Water and Power Development Authority launches special initiative to improve fielding in Pakistan’s Cricket

Lahore, April 30, 2016 (PPI-OT):WAPDA Sports Board (WSB) organised a 5-day working camp for young emerging cricketers selected from all over the country here at Qaddafi Stadium, in collaboration with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) under the initiative “Focus on Fitness and Fielding” being introduced by WAPDA to improve the standard of fielding in Pakistan’s Cricket.

The closing ceremony of the coaching camp was held today at Qaddafi Stadium. PCB Chairman Shaharyar M. Khan was the Chief Guest of the ceremony, who awarded cash prizes to the best five fielders of the camp. The best fielder was awarded a cash prize of fifty thousand rupees, while four other players who jointly secured second position were given twenty five thousand each. Certificates were also given away to all the participants.

Addressing on the occasion, PCB Chairman said that this coaching camp by WAPDA is of immense importance because fitness and fielding play vital role in cricket. He congratulated WAPDA on initiating “Focus on Fitness and Fielding” scheme, adding that he is confident that such initiatives will serve well to elevate fielding in our cricket. Appreciated WAPDA for its brilliant performance in national as well as international events, he expressed the hope that WAPDA will continue patronising sports in the country.

Earlier, WAPDA Chairman in his welcome address said that WAPDA has launched three special initiatives in sports under its corporate social responsibility, “Focus on Fitness and Fielding” being one of them to elevate fielding standard in cricket in Pakistan. He apprised the participants that under this initiative, some 40 young cricketers, aged from 16 to 19 years, were selected through fielding competitions from eight different cities that are Lahore, Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Multan, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Quetta.

They were invited to attend the coaching camp at Lahore at WAPDA’s expense, where they were imparted training by the qualified coaches to improve their fielding skills. They were also apprised as to how they could improve and maintain their fitness level, he added. The Chairman announced that this scheme will continue on annual basis as regular feature.

WAPDA Chairman also spoke of two other initiatives which include ‘T12 Cricket’ also aims at highlighting the significance of fielding in cricket and “WAPDA Athletics Colts” to promote athletics in Pakistan. Referring to performance of WAPDA at national level, he said that out of 58 WAPDA’s teams, we are national champion in 28 and runners-up in 17 sports. He said that WAPDA will also raise its women cricket team to take part in the national championship this year.

Saad Khan of Hyderabad was declared as the best fielder of the coaching camp while Muhammad Ilyas from Peshawar, Muhammad Hanif from Rawalpindi, Hamza Qadir from Karachi and Muhammad Rizwan from Lahore jointly secured second position.